January 9, 2018

Seminar at Mitsubishi Corporation

On November 30th, 2017, Taejun Shin, Gojo CEO, engaged in conversation with about 100 employees of Mitsubishi Corporation. It was organized thanks to staff union of Mitsubishi Corporation. Speaking about his life’s background, Taejun shared with his audience, the inspiration to establish Gojo, which came from his own life experiences, which fired his burning desire to serve the financially excluded people all around the world. Taejun said that he is inspired to do something extraordinary and that Gojo aspires “to be the Private Sector World Bank”. Sharing his views on microfinance, he felt that the “the field of microfinance needs innovation”. Speaking about the realities of running a business, Taejun stressed upon “the importance of both passion and business acumen” as the cornerstones of good management. The event showcased how in a short span of time the passionate and dedicated Gojo team has managed to successfully touch the lives of many people in the financially excluded sector to bring in change and make the world a better place.

About Gojo & Company, Inc.
Gojo, established in 2014, is a holding company of microfinance institutions around the world. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and has subsidiary microfinance institutions in various countries. Gojo aspires to create a world in which everyone has an opportunity to overcome one’s own destiny and attain a better life. Gojo aims to reach out to more than 100 million people in all continents by the end of 2030.


For further information please contact:
info@gojo.co

October 24, 2017

Completed the 1st Close of our Series B Financing

We are pleased to announce that Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Limited (“Dai-ichi Life”) and Nippon Venture Capital Co., Ltd (“NVCC”) join Gojo & Company Inc. (“Gojo” or “we”) as new shareholders. We welcome them warmly. The $5.4 million funding from the two companies constitutes the first close of Gojo’s Series B financing whose final close timing is expected to be the end of January 2018 and amount $10 – 15 million. Gojo will use most of the raised funds to make investments in microfinance institutions.

It is Gojo’s first funding from institutional investors. Both Dai-chi Life and NVCC provide patient capital, thus enabling Gojo to maintain its long-term view and values. The funding also marks the landmark ESG investment deal in Japan.

Established in 1902, Dai-ichi Life, the lead investor in Gojo’s Series B financing, was the oldest mutual insurance company in Japan and demutualized in 2010. Dai-ichi Life and its group companies provide insurance services in Japan and other countries including Asia with consolidated assets amounting to more than $400 billion. We believe that Gojo will benefit from the experience of various insurance services provided by Dai-ichi Life and that we can partner to expand microinsurance in South East and South Asian countries.

Founded in 1996, NVCC is one of the largest venture capitals in Japan whose shareholders are such reputable Japanese corporations as Fujifilm, Daikin, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Shin-Etsu Chemical, Nidec, ORIX among others. We expect that Gojo will be able to expand its existing market research business with the support from NVCC.

We consider this funding another step forward for us to achieve our mission – to be the Private Sector World Bank. To achieve the goal, it is imperative that we have institutional investors who share our vision and mission. We are grateful to Dai-ichi Life and NVCC for making the decision to be the first penguin.

Despite all hurdles ahead of us, we keep calm and carry on making quality financial services available to everyone in the world. We wish your continuous support for us.

Sincerely yours,

Taejun Shin
Founder, Representative Director, and CEO

October 24, 2017

総額約6億円のシリーズB資金調達の第一次クローズを完了しました

第一生命保険株式会社(以下「第一生命」)及び日本ベンチャーキャピタル株式会社(以下「NVCC」)が五常・アンド・カンパニー株式会社(以下「五常」)の第三者割当増資に応じ、新たに株主として加わります。今回調達した約6億円をもって、シリーズB資金調達の第一次クローズは完了となり、最終的なクローズは2018年上旬頃、総額は11-16億円程度となる見込みです。今回調達した資金は主に、既存子会社を含むマイクロファイナンス機関へ投資する予定です。

五常の成長を長期的な視点を持って支援していただける最初の機関投資家を迎え入れることになりました。本件は、日本国内における代表的なESG投資の案件の一つとなると考えています。

シリーズBラウンドのリード投資家となる第一生命は、1902年に設立された日本で最も歴史のある相互会社で、2010年に株式会社化しました。子会社を含め、アジア諸国で保険サービスを展開し、その規模は4,000億米ドルを超えています。当社は、第一生命が提供する様々な保険サービスの知見を活かすことにも期待しており、東南アジア諸国でマイクロインシュランス事業の領域での協業可能性についても検討します。

NVCCは、1996年に設立された日本最大のベンチャーキャピタルのひとつで、富士フイルム、ダイキン、三井住友フィナンシャルグループ、信越化学工業、日本電産、オリックスなどを株主としています。当社はNVCCの支援を受けて、市場調査事業の拡大について検討します。

当社のミッションを達成するためにはビジョンを共有することが出来る機関投資家株主の存在が不可欠であり、最初の機関投資家として両社を迎え入れられたことに大きな喜びを感じています。

国内外での事業運営及び投資の実績が豊富なパートナーのご支援を得ることで、五常は成長を加速していきます。

【五常・アンド・カンパニーについて】
五常・アンド・カンパニーは2014年7月の創業以降順調に事業は成長し、現在ではアジア4カ国でマイクロクレジットを中心とした金融サービスを提供しています。

2030年までに民間版の世界銀行となり、1億人以上の顧客に金融サービスを提供し、金融アクセスを人類にとって当たり前のものにすることをミッションに掲げています。

【会社概要】
会社名 五常・アンド・カンパニー株式会社(英文社名)Gojo and Company, Inc.
本社所在地 東京都渋谷区恵比寿南二丁目19番7-501号
代表者 愼 泰俊

<本リリースの問い合わせ先>
info@gojo.co

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